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$25,000 Raised to Bring Police Dog to Ft. Mitchell

The Ft. Mitchell Police Department is closer to adding a new K-9 unit thanks to a generous contribution from Mercedes-Benz of Fort Mitchell.

In November, the police department teamed up with the dealership, as well as other local businesses like Camporosso Wood Fired Pizzeria, Skyline Chili, Ft. Mitchell Veterinary Center, and Atlas Home Fitness to launch the "Shane's Best Friend" fundraising campaign to assist in the purchase of a police K-9 for Police Specialist Shane Best.

Throughout the campaign many other community partners have stepped in to support the effort, including The Saddle Club, Dorning Supply, The Elsa Heisel Sule Foundation, Klare Kitchen & Bath Design, Woolf Contractors, Bessler Electric, and Florida Tile. Individual community members have also stepped up.

In all, just over $25,000 was raised, including the $5,000 contributed by Mercedes-Benz of Ft. Mitchell on Friday afternoon. Managing partner Don Paparella presented the City of Ft. Mitchell the check.

“Supporting this project was an easy decision for us. We have a great relationship with the Fort Mitchell Police Department and our community," Paparella said. "We see the effects illegal drugs are having in this area and want to do everything we can to help our police and our community combat this problem.”

The Fort Mitchell Police Department’s interest in adding a K-9 to the department was heavily driven by the heroin epidemic currently affecting the region. “Although Fort Mitchell is a generally quiet, safe community, no community is immune to the devastation wrought by heroin,” Ft. Mitchell Police Chief Andrew Schierberg said. “By adding this dog to our force, we hope to intercept heroin and other drugs before users have the chance to overdose. Preservation of life and protection of the public are our goals. A police dog greatly enhances our capabilities in support of those missions.